Comments for Limited Consular Services in Santa Cruz

Hi Karen: For your personal safety, we eliminated your home address and phone number from this post and have left only the email you provided.

This was originally posted in October 2009 and was a warden message sent out by the US Consulate to let Americans know that the services in Santa Cruz would be limited between October 5-9 of 2009.

However, the US Consulate in Santa Cruz has been providing only limited services for quite a few months now, so we emailed the Consulate in La Paz requesting clarification and this is the information we have as of today, April 14, 2010:

Thank you for your e-mail. Due to the absence of consular personnel, the consular agency in Santa Cruz will be closed from March 30, 2010, to April 23, 2010. After the agency in Santa Cruz reopens will be able to provide limited services. Mainly to receive passport applications. Persons seeking emergency services or other than passport services during this period of time, may directly contact the American Citizen Services Unit, U.S. Embassy in La Paz at (591-2) 216-8246 or via email at consularlapaz@state.gov . We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

I am very surprised by this news. I have been trying to call the Consular Office and reach a busy line. I had no idea or the Consular's move.

As a matter of fact, when I spoke to Anita in September or October, she advised me that I could have any important mail, such as check cards, etc. sent to the US Consular Office, PO Box 76, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Anita informed me that she would contact me at home when anything arrived by mail.

I have spent many hours going thru the changes with the banks, etc.

Please advise me as to the situation here inSanta Cruz! My family as well as many Americans living here depend on their bank checks for survival. It is hard to imagine that The American Consular would abandon Santa Cruz. I am not a young person that can fly all over the country.

my e-mail address is:hunnietrap@hotmail.com

I am very concerned and just taked to feed a little relief after contacting banks for correct address changes.